Using the two stories from Sherlock Holmes write an essay on what you have learned about the character of the hero and his detective skills.

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Introduction

Amy Gallivan 11j English coursework Pre-20c prose Question Using the two stories from Sherlock Holmes write an essay on what you have learned about the character of the hero and his detective skills. Decide which story you believe is the more interesting detective story giving reasons for your choice. Refer to important extracts from the stories to support your views. ....................................... Sherlock Holmes is a well-known and loved detective who features in sixty-eight of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective stories. Written in the early 19c and set in London, the adventures of Holmes and his companion Dr Watson (with whom shared a flat with during some of the tales) are ingeniously written. Conan Doyle was born in 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland; he went to Stonyhurst School and did a degree in medicine at Edinburgh University. He began writing during the time he was in medical practice using it as a way to pass the time he had free during his work. However his writing soon took over from medicine and he became famous for it. Conan Doyle was influenced by Edgar Allan Poe who similarly to Conan Doyle created a detective with odd habits and amazing powers of deduction, which are two of the recognisable characteristics of Sherlock Holmes. ...read more.

Middle

He then goes on to show his powers of deduction by describing Watson's current lifestyle perfectly even down to the fact that Watson had a useless maid using strong observational powers. " It is simplicity itself, " says Holmes. He uses his eyes in ways Watson does not think to do. Watson's in awe of Holmes during the stories, this is visible during 'A Scandal in Bohemia' when Watson says to Holmes "the thing always seems to me ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, through each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled, until you explain your process. And yet I believe my eyes are as good as yours." During 'the Speckled Band 'we are also introduced to Holmes skills very quickly. As soon as Helen stoner (the daughter of Dr. Roylott) arrives Holmes begins using his observational skill. "And I shall order you a hot cup of coffee, for I observe that you are shivering. " from these examples of Holmes' method I've learnt that Holmes possesses excellent observational skills, and that he is constantly using them Holmes stakes in information whenever he looks at things this is shown when he has a discussion with Watson about the front steps of their baker street flat. ...read more.

Conclusion

Watson explains in "A Scandal In bohemia" that Holmes was never interested in women as he thought they would distract him if he got involved with them. He thought women would damage his skills however he had a lot of respect for Irene. But in "The speckled Band" the ending is quite different as Holmes gets a result from sitting in Dr. Roylotts house all night he sends the snake through the vent just as Holmes had anticipated and prepared for meaning he was ready to attack when it emerged. He swiped at the snake and sent it back into the Dr's room causing it to kill him. This was a positive result for Holmes as he had prevented a young woman from being killed. Personally I prefer different elements in each story. I like the tension and drama that is shown throughout "The Speckled Band" but I like the way also that there is a lot of wit and intelligence in " a Scandal In Bohemia" with people scheming and plotting there is a lot of planning but it does not have the dark qualities of "The Speckled Band". I think these are two very different stories and although they have similar structures the eventual outcome is very different. ...read more.

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won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you use an arc-and compass breastpin, The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been done in china."

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In Victorian times this unique partnership was so excitedly received and widely embraced by the public that Conan Doyle's plan to kill off the detective was met with death threats from the public. One of the main reasons that the Sherlock stories were so popular was because they were original and unique for that time.